Letux 400

[the_oak]

This is not really a new product (as far as being mentioned here on the forums), but I think this is an effort by our old friend (and member here) Guylhem. It is called the Letux 400. It is similar to the Razorbook, Elonex One T, HiVision Mininote, and several other iterations of the same (or similar) basic design. Wasn't Letux Guylhem's old project from before his wreck?

http://www.letux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Letux_400

http://www.letux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

http://www.notebooks.com/wiki/index.php/XB...erating_Systems

[adf]

Yeah I looked at these, but the thing is worth about $100 usd afaik, and I can't seem to find one anywhere near that price, nor for sale in the US. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if I could find it available to me in the US for anything like the suggested $98usd pricetag HiVision quoted in the fall.

[dhns]

Yes, Guylhem was the one who coined the name "Letux" for such small Linux based handheld devices and projects and was the driver behind the Letux N30 solution. Unfortunately he did have that accident and is no longer actively contributing. But he is well, living on some nice area with beach, long-drinks etc. I think he is doing scientific research. Now, we have found Golden Delicious Computers (a major European distributor of the Openmoko Freerunner) and kernel concepts ("GPE") to support this project.

Let me compare the Letux to the Zaurus and other Netbooks:

Device: C3200 // Letux 400 // eeePC 701
Dimensions: 8,5 x 12 x 2,5 cm // 14 x 21 x 3 cm // 16,5 x 22,5 x 3,5 cm
Weight: 298 g // 670 g // 900g
Screen: VGA // WVGA // WVGA
Keyboard: QWERTY // QWERTY // QWERTY
Touch: yes // no // no
WLAN: no // yes // yes
USB: 1x // 3x // 3x
Flash: 6 GB (HDD) // 2 GB // 4GB
Slots: CF & SD // SD // SD
RAM: 128 MB // 128 MB // 512 MB
CPU: ARM // MIPS // x86
Regular Price: ca. 400-500 EUR // 199 EUR // 299 EUR
Linux: Sharp & Community // Letux & Debian // Xandros

If you hold them in your hands and compare to the eeePC you clearly prefer the Letux from ergonomics. And it is real fun to play with!!!

Nikolaus

PS: we are looking for contributing developers who can get a device at reduced price.

[speculatrix]

Ahah! I was wondering what the device was that I saw in Maplins (a kind of Radio Shack for those in USA):
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...32&source=1

[dhns]

Hi all,
there are now two projects on www.linuxtogo.org and a wiki page with a lot of background information (hardware, software analysis, uboot, kernels, hints, tricks and tips etc.).

Links:  

http://projects.linuxtogo.org/projects/minibook-kernel/ -- kernel develoment (2.6.x)
http://projects.linuxtogo.org/projects/mipsbook/ -- user space development (Debian chroot etc.)

http://projects.kwaak.net/twiki/bin/view/E.../HardwareLayout
http://projects.kwaak.net/twiki/bin/view/E...ompilingAKernel

While our consumers are really surprised to use it as a lightweight and very portable photo viewer, e-mail reader, etc., we still see that developers are a little reluctant to look depper into that device. It is fully hackable and a lot of fun to play with! Any reasons?

-- hns

[dhns]

Yeah I looked at these, but the thing is worth about $100 usd afaik, and I can't seem to find one anywhere near that price, nor for sale in the US. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if I could find it available to me in the US for anything like the suggested $98usd pricetag HiVision quoted in the fall.

Did you find any offer at 98 USD so far?

AFAIK the HiVision price tag was a misquote and meant a factory purchase price for some millions of units (OLPC). If you know a little about component prices, shipment cost and dealers margins you would yourself find that 98 USD shop price is not achievable for a full minilaptop with keyboard and color WVGA. Compare to the Zaurus. Do you think a Zaurus is not worth more than 150 USD (for its touch screen)? In fact the Zaurus should be worth less since it has a smaller screen area  But we all happily paid some 400-800 USD for them some years ago!

-- hns

[adf]

Yeah I looked at these, but the thing is worth about $100 usd afaik, and I can't seem to find one anywhere near that price, nor for sale in the US. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if I could find it available to me in the US for anything like the suggested $98usd pricetag HiVision quoted in the fall.

Did you find any offer at 98 USD so far?

AFAIK the HiVision price tag was a misquote and meant a factory purchase price for some millions of units (OLPC). If you know a little about component prices, shipment cost and dealers margins you would yourself find that 98 USD shop price is not achievable for a full minilaptop with keyboard and color WVGA. Compare to the Zaurus. Do you think a Zaurus is not worth more than 150 USD (for its touch screen)? In fact the Zaurus should be worth less since it has a smaller screen area  But we all happily paid some 400-800 USD for them some years ago!
-- hns

The price discussed last fall was in comparison to the goals of OLPC, so I think they were shooting for lower consumer cost than you imply.

components become cheaper over time, and the Z was really top o the line when it came out. The HiVision is not a top end device, it is supposed to be a llow cost basic utility device. Look at it this way; in 2008 most smartphomes have as much memory as this device. Its really cool, but not at near the price of a Pandora

[dhns]

... 2008 most smartphomes have as much memory as this device. Its really cool, but not at near the price of a Pandora

Oh really? Most have more than 2GB Flash at lower price (w/o contract!)? Yes, some have 256 MB which is more than 128 MB. So e.g. the iPhone has more RAM and Flash...

According to my research this official page http://www.openpandora.org/index_en.php says:

How much will it cost?
Around £199 (inc VAT), $330, Euro212 (Ex.VAT).

So how do you come to the conclusion that the Pandora is cheaper?

Or better. The Pandora has a touchscreen (++) but a much smaller display (--) only 43 keys (--). I could not find a reference about memory capacity of the Pandora. And a 600 MHz ARM vs. 335 MHz MIPS doesn't make make it necessarily faster (I can't do real comparisons but the MIPS@335 MHz has a much faster Xfb than any 400 MHz Zaurus).

-- hns

[the_oak]

speculatrix linked to this page:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...32&source=1

If I am reading correctly, (in Frequently Asked Questions section) the OS cannot be upgraded or replaced. Is that right?

Q) Can I install windows xp or any other operating system?   - Steve

A) The minibook comes with a version of Linux pre installed on a chip inside the minibook. It is not possible to remove, upgrade or re-install on this chip. Here is a URL for the source code for the Linux Release: http://194.150.201.35/cnmlifestyle/sourcecode.htm

[dhns]

speculatrix linked to this page:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...32&source=1

If I am reading correctly, (in Frequently Asked Questions section) the OS cannot be upgraded or replaced. Is that right?

Q) Can I install windows xp or any other operating system?   - Steve

A) The minibook comes with a version of Linux pre installed on a chip inside the minibook. It is not possible to remove, upgrade or re-install on this chip. Here is a URL for the source code for the Linux Release: http://194.150.201.35/cnmlifestyle/sourcecode.htm

I can't speak for the Maplin device but for the Letux 400 it can be replaced and comes with a Debian extension (just open a console and use apt-get). That is what it makes different from all similar little minibooks.

And updating the OS is what the Linuxtogo.org and letux.org projects are about (links posted above). What is a little more difficult is to install a new kernel. And that is the reason why we ask for developers to simply do so...

-- hns

[adf]

... 2008 most smartphomes have as much memory as this device. Its really cool, but not at near the price of a Pandora

Oh really? Most have more than 2GB Flash at lower price (w/o contract!)? Yes, some have 256 MB which is more than 128 MB. So e.g. the iPhone has more RAM and Flash...

According to my research this official page http://www.openpandora.org/index_en.php says:

How much will it cost?
Around £199 (inc VAT), $330, Euro212 (Ex.VAT).

So how do you come to the conclusion that the Pandora is cheaper?

Or better. The Pandora has a touchscreen (++) but a much smaller display (--) only 43 keys (--). I could not find a reference about memory capacity of the Pandora. And a 600 MHz ARM vs. 335 MHz MIPS doesn't make make it necessarily faster (I can't do real comparisons but the MIPS@335 MHz has a much faster Xfb than any 400 MHz Zaurus).

-- hns

OK the pandora costs more, the letux is here for 199 euros, about 265 usd. So it is about the price of an unlocked blackberry clone (like a samsung i617- 290mhz opmap, 128 megs ram, minisd to 4 gigs, usb, etc. @180 usd) + some extras. I had really hoped these gadgets would retail lower, as Hivision had seemed to indicate on their announcement.  Good luck with it, though. If you get a solid OS on board it is still a very attractive webook at that price, though nothing like it seems available in the US.

[scottlfa]

For 265 us why not just buy an Eeepc?  The specs on the Letux sight look very close to those of the 2G Eeepc.

[dhns]

For 265 us why not just buy an Eeepc?  The specs on the Letux sight look very close to those of the 2G Eeepc.

The 199 EUR price quoted by adf includes 19 % VAT. I.e. it is more eqivalent to 217 USD.

But price is not all. It is lighter and smaller. Much easier to carry around and to operate while holding in your hand.

-- hns